Teens, Tots and Everything In Between

This is my blog to share about my life including 5 kids ranging in age from 20 to year. It is also a resource(I hope) for learning to save money and live within your means.
The second purpose for this blog has emerged as this year has changed our lives in all aspects. I want to share openly about our lives so that someone else can benefit or recognize God's love and purpose. Selfishly, I will print at the end of each year for a record to share with the kids.

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

We got back a $10 rebate from paint today so currently, we are over budget by only $4 now for the Renovation. Matt is going to take some scrap metal to the recycle center on Thursday so that will put us under again until I purchase the matching bed set for Kendall.

Zach is currently sleeping in his new room, he "tried" giving up pacifiers last night but that did not go well. He currently only has the one in his mouth which is a decrease of 3. I really don't see how he is going to give these up! But I also do not want to give up any more sleep in this battle.

Matt is starting to work in his new office. I "think" all the work in the other rooms is finished! We even switched out door knobs on the little girls room after Kendall managed to lock herself in. So now that door does not lock.

I am not planning a huge grocery trip this week. Instead we hit up Walmart tonight for the couple of items we are out of. I was only able to find one of the 5 deals I was looking for with my coupons. But on the bright side, we found a $1 clearance table with shorts for Zach. I purchased 6 pairs of shorts and 1 T-shirt as well as a skirt each for the girls. Total spent even with groceries $24!!

As I moved clothes this weekend and yesterday, I discovered/confirmed that only Zach will be in need of clothes for this winter. He does not need a new coat or shoes or pajamas. My goal is to spend less than $75 on clothes for him this winter. Hopefully, I will be able to find a really good sale on jeans and pants as this is the biggest need for him.

We started a new schedule around the house this week. We have moved every one's bedtime to 7:30 except for Wednesday nights. Kendall and Lily both will be up later till at least 8:30 because of church. Lily also will have a second late night due to cheerleading. The even bigger change is a schedule during the day, which greatly reduces television watching and includes "school" time daily except for Thursdays. So far both evenings have gone much smoother and things seem not so "hurried". Matt has work time and hopefully we can find a balance and maintain it!!

Monday, August 13, 2012

Lots of changes have been going on this past weekend. So I wanted to start sharing with you. We have not spent any more money but mostly likely will end up spending more on a matching bed set for Kendall and a third dresser for Zach as he is sharing a closet and needs some more space.

Kendall's new bed it fits so well

Notice the cool strip and both the new dressers in Zach's room

The finished product
Right before bed............... don't they look innocent?

Sunday, August 12, 2012

What is my challenge? Spend as close to $20 a week at Food Lion over the next 4 weeks while purchasing items we need or to add to the stockpile based on sales. I am also going to give myself $10 a week to spend at CVS to keep rolling ECB. So that is a total of $30 a week for the next 4 weeks to feed our family of 6.

Week One Shopping:Total Spent- $32.01Week Two Shopping: Total Spent- $84.24Week Three Shopping: Total Spent- $198.84

Week Four Shopping: This week we are definitely back on track. Since I am on vacation, Matt and I hit Harris Teeter for Super Doubles at 7am on Wednesday. We spent $21.64, saved 86.06 or 80%. I also managed to hit CVS this week to stock up on Tide. This remains the one item that I am brand loyal on so to hit a stock up price is awesome. I spent 23.51 saved 39.11 or 62% including enough Tide for 6 to 8 weeks. Total Spent $ 45.15

Reflection: According to the number I was success for 2 of the 4 weeks. But in reality I was able to reduce my normal budget of $800 to $361 or less than half, that makes it a success! I am at least looking at my food budget differently now instead of cool this is a good deal let me stock up or we are going to need this in the next month so I will buy it now, I am now looking at the things in my pantry going unless we are out lets hold off purchasing!

Friday, August 10, 2012

Warning; This post contains no shopping deals but some reflects that you may or may not agree with so read at your own risk.

This
morning I was treated to Breakfast in Bed which was Sausage Gravy and
biscuits. Then I spent most of the morning "hanging out" with Kendall
and Zach with spurts of mindless TV throw in! Kendall has started using
the term "hanging out" whenever she wants to sit and cuddle or just sit
with me so I really am enjoying this "hanging out.

Next we headed
to the China Buffet for sushi and more for lunch, nap followed very
nicely. Finally we headed to the pool with leftover pizza for dinner. It
has been a quiet relaxing uneventful birthday, I wish for many more
just like it!

I don't feel any older by turning 40 today but I
have begun to realize a couple of things over the past month that this
is the perfect place and time to share. First, we are officially
finished with the baby stage in the house. I can honestly say that I
have no desire to have any more babies in my house. I love newborns and
even infants but I am thankful that even now all the kids are walking,
talking and can feed themselves. It has been 7 years since I have been
able to sit down and enjoy a meal or time at the pool for even 10
minutes without another body attached to mine. I always wondered how
people knew their family was complete, now I know you just do. We are
now entering a new stage in life but it is fun and exciting. Next, our
lives finally feel like we have exited the roller coaster. The past two
to three years have been constant turmoil, change, worry and unending
list of things that need to be accomplished. I know that we still have
things that need to be finished and we certainly are not financially
stable but we have a plan,and know that God is providing and directing
our steps. With my full time status at work, I will have "regular" hours
to a degree, with a no longer need to "fill" time with a second and
third job. I plan on continuing to work the second job as time and need
allows but it will no longer be a part of our regular income. Matt and I
have talked this week, several times about establishing a routine for
the days. This should accomplish several things including getting the
kids on a more regular routine and providing time for Matt to focus on
building his business. Finally we have almost finished with renovation
and everyone should be happy in their space for at least a year. So even
knowing storms will and are coming we can drift and enjoy the down
time.

Thursday, August 9, 2012

One of the advantages to staying home on vacation this week, is that we are making amazing progress on the renovations. Haley's room is 100% complete. See below for all the details!

Haley's new room- Haley has moved across the hall to the
largest bedroom with a half bath attached. a) Scrap popcorn
ceiling- completed, b) repaint ceiling-completed c) Remove wallpaper
boarder-completed d) repaint walls- e)Replace window- has been order.
f)Complete floor in closet g) move window treatments.DONE!!!! Furniture needed: 2 new dresser for clothing. After much debate at IKEA, Haley chose a clothing system that included pull out boxes. She was able to move all her clothing due to the deep boxes. Officially Haley's room is finished.

Lily and Kendall move into bigger room-a) Scrap popcorn ceiling, b) repaint ceiling
c) Remove wallpaper boarder d) repair walls and door e) Paint walls f)
Purchase and hang new window treatments. g) Matt is planning to make a
new twin bed frame for Lily to use. h) change light fixture for new fan
already purchased. Furniture needed: New closet divider, bins. All these items are complete! After discussion, Matt is currently staining a new wooden bed frame for Kendall. My goal/plan for tomorrow is to get all the drawers labeled to make putting away clothing easier. Lily will have her own closet. Kendall and Zach will share the closet in Zach's room.

Zach gets his own room and closet- a) Scrap popcorn ceiling, b) repaint ceilingc) adapt currently color (yellow) to boys room probably pin-stripping and maybe stickers. Furniture needed:Due to changes in the budget, we decided to purchase 2 small dressers for Zach's room. Currently, Matt is working to get the wall art complete, and then the ceiling. My best guess on when Zach will be changing to his new room is prior to Labor Day. Not this week but we are making steady progress!

Matt's office- Matt will need furniture only for this including -desk, chair and shelves. These needs have dramatically changes especially due to our budget and trying to get the most out of it. Matt has decided to make a desk with an old door and unused floor planks. In addition, he was given an awesome chair so it will now be a matter of arranging and using things we have as our budget is gone.!

Spending Totals for Renovations
Budget information:$1000Total spent $470 with $530 remaining. Total spent $595 with $405 left.
Since the last update, our planned trip to IKEA has been completed. We spent $339 on everything including several candles and all the new furniture. Matt has made 2 small trips to Lowes this week as well to purchase paint and supplies for the bed, total spent $80. For a grand total this week of $419.

We currently are $14 over budget at $1014. I am planning to continue sharing with you updates so that you can see how far we can stretch this last spending spree. I also want to be able to see on average what we spent per room.